“I was born in Hawaii and I grew up in Japan. Through my elementary school and high school years, I attended an international school that structured education mainly for Christian missionary kids. The Christian conservative ideal didn’t sit well with me and to escape and explore different ideas, I turned to music and art. Rummaging through my dad’s music collection, I got to know some good stuff like Jimi Hendrix and the like. Since there weren’t any classic rock radio channels in Japan, everything felt like a new discovery. In middle school, the discovery of punk music allowed me to rebel against my school’s absolute truth of God and let me find my own beliefs and meaning.

I remember a family trip with a destination that I can’t remember. “Easy Rider” was playing on the airplane through the tiny video monitors. I listened to Jack Nicholson’s character talk about aliens in outer space living as individuals, being their own leaders, completely independent from everything. It blew me away. I made a vow that I will become my own leader and, since I can’t explore outer space, I will explore my inner space.

I became very fond of artists and musicians that shared their inner explosions and sublime thoughts, allowing an intimate experience for the lonely listener. Brian Wilson, Brian Eno, John Fahey, and countless electronic musicians filled my soul with comfort and a sense of security. Music can be one of the most personal possessions of an individual. The invention of head-phones and ear-phones has allowed the listener to become the music. The synthesis of the artist’s expressions and the listener’s interpretive sensations takes a form of a conglomerate subconscious. Wanna try?” - Dustin Wong

Dustin Wong is a former member of Ponytail and Ecstatic Sunshine. With these two bands, he has toured the USA and Europe extensively.